Behind the velvet rope at Disneyland's Soundsational Summer party

June 2, 2011, 11:25 PM · After The Little Mermaid opening ceremony, Disney offered the gathered reporters a performance of Mickey's Soundsational Parade. I'll post the video of that performance tomorrow, but I've already uploaded a video of the pre-parade flash mob to our Twitter account.

At the end of the parade, Disney threw a media party at the Disneyland Hotel.

Disneyland Hotel

Most of the guests appeared to be upper-level Disney employees, retirees and their families and guests, but more than a few photographers, videographers and TV and radio hosts walked across Downtown Disney for the free music, food and booze.

Aerial view of the party

With all the freebies out in the courtyard, not that many folks were heading in to Trader Sam's, the popular new tiki bar at the Disneyland Hotel that some have called the west-coast resurrection of Pleasure Island's Adventurer's Club.

Trader Sam's

The hotel's new monorail-themed watersides looked ready to go, though no one was taking advantage during the party.

Monorail waterslides

Instead, the entertainment was provided by a live band.

Band at the Soundsational Summer Party

Security was tight, of course. No interlopers allowed.

Stormtroopes

Celebrating the opening of Star Tours and The Little Mermaid made for a bit of an odd theme to the festivities. So Disney kept the mermaids in the pool, well away from the Stormtroopers.

Live mermaids in the pool

But the big attraction at these shindigs is the food and drink. Chefs were grilling all the kabobs you could eat.

Chefs grilling at the Disneyland party

Or, you could select one of the prepared appetizers, such as "King Triton's Surf and Turf" - "Duo tridents of shrimp with sweet garlic chili sauce and grilled beef with tangy BBQ sauce"

Shrimp and steak

And you could wrap up your noshing with a trip to the Star Tours-themed dessert bar, complete with lightsabers.

Dessert bar

Tomorrow morning, it's the opening ceremony for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, followed by a "What's Next" presentation as we get a look behind the construction walls at Cars Land. We'll be there, and the coverage will be here.

Replies (3)

June 3, 2011 at 5:51 AM · Wow – Disney genetically created a few mermaids…… They must really be perfecting this method because of all the mermaids in Pirates also…

But come on Robert… Couldn’t you have gotten a better picture of these fabulous creatures..?

I only wish there was one that looked like Ariel with Red hair……..

June 4, 2011 at 3:54 PM · That was my first thought, Brian. I imagine with all the free booze, there were plenty of shameless perverts reporters crowded around the mermaid pool, making close-ups difficult.

Very cool press party. Does Disney host conferences at any of their hotels? They seem like the perfect company to have cater a huge conference.

June 4, 2011 at 7:31 AM · While I was in the pool area, the mermaids never got out, so the shot there was the best one I got that showed their tails.

Close-ups from the front just look like a couple women in the pool. What's the point of that? Well, okay, I know the point of that, but you couldn't tell that they were supposed to be mermaids.

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